Smithsonia - Saldanha

A South Indian endemic genus of three species, Smithsonia
is superfically Phalaenopsis like but the lip is curiously constructed
and pollinia are 4 in two unequal halves . All the three species are found
in Kerala .

Dalzell's Micropera maculata was the basis for proposal
of the new genus Loxoma by Garay (1972: 183) who differentated it from
Gastrochilus by the general apperance , in the reclining column , in the
presence of a short column -foot and in the distinctly divided pollinia
. Garay's Loxama is an illegitimate homonym of that of Loxoma is an illegitimate
homonym of that of Loxoma is an illegitimate homonym of that Loxoma is
an illegitimate homonym of that of Loxoma R. Br. ex Cunningham (=Loxsoma
R. Br. ex Cunningham emend.W. J. Hook ., Loxsomaceae) of 1837. Saldanha
described his Smithsonia to include Dalzell's two species and his novelty
from Karnataka .